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10 United Women's Soccer stars look to make their pro dreams come true

METUCHEN, NJ - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will conduct their 2018 College Draft this Thursday, January 18th (10 AM EST) at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention in Philadelphia, PA. It will be held in the CC Grand Ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. One of the cornerstones of United Women's Soccer (UWS) is to develop talent for the professional ranks and 10 former UWS standouts have registered and are eligible for this year's draft.

The 2018 NWSL College Draft will be live streamed and is open to the public & media. For more information, visit their Draft Hub. Fans and friends can find United Women's Soccer at Booth 1405 in the Exhibit Hall at the PA Convention Center. Follow UWS on social media for live updates and more. For full information on the USC Convention, visit their official website at UnitedSoccerCoachesConvention.org.

"I want to wish all the players involved in Thursday's NWSL College Draft the best of luck in making their professional dreams come true," said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. "And I'd like to also send kudos to our UWS alumni participating as well. Our member teams strive for development and we all hope these players get a good look at the next level."

Forward Michaela Abam starred for the Colorado Pride during the 2016 UWS season. Abam was a 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team selection for West Virginia University this past fall and finished her Mountaineer career ranked No. 3 all-time with 42 career goals and No. 4 with 100 points (42 G, 16 A). The 2017 UWS Defensive Player Of The Year & University of Wisconsin goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem will also take part in the draft. Detroit Sun FC finished in 2nd place in the Midwest last summer and Clem started in seven regular season games (5-1-1 record, 3 shutouts, 7 goals allowed) as well as all three postseason tilts for the 2017 UWS National Semifinalists.

Caitlyn started all 22 matches for Wisconsin (10 shutouts) and was named to the 2017 All-Big Ten Preseason Team. She also garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions for Head Coach Paula Wilkins. Bailey Corbin was also a defensive standout this fall during her collegiate campaign for Nova Southeastern University, as she was named Third Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches. Corbin helped propel the Sharks to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a Sunshine State Conference regular season title, and was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Year. Bailey has appeared in 19 of the 20 UWS games that the Lancaster Inferno have played the past two seasons.

In just two seasons at Liberty University, forward/midfielder Isabella Habuda proved to be one of the program's prolific scorers, ranking 11th in school history with 41 career points (16 G, 9 A). It was the second straight season that Habuda was named to the All-Big South Conference First Team. Isabella tied for second in scoring for Detroit and was named to the UWS Team of the Week (Week 1) for her 2 goals in a win over FC Indiana. Forward Paige Hayward was named to the All-SWAC Second Team for the second consecutive season after leading Texas Southern University in scoring (8 G, 18 PTS). The Australia-native and Houston Aces veteran tied TSU's all-time goals record and became the school's all-time leader in points on Senior Day this fall.

Defender/midfielder Gabrielle Matulich starred for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat during their 2016 UWS championship season. Matulich earned Pac-12 All-Academic honors for the third-straight year at UCLA and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week (Oct. 3) after recording a goal and assist against Oregon State. In her first season for New Jersey Copa F.C., midfielder Jessica Reinhardt appeared in seven games for the 2017 East Conference regular season champions. Reinhardt would go on to be named Second Team All-Region by United Soccer Coaches for Fairleigh Dickinson University this fall and was selected to the All-Northeast Conference First Team for the third straight season. She became FDU's all-time leader in assists (23).

Defender Allyson Swaby was team co-captain for Boston College and started in all 20 games for the Eagles (started in 70 of 73 career games over her four-year career at BC). Swaby has been a member of the Jamaican Women's National Team and was named to the 2016 All-UWS & All-East Conference Teams for the New England Mutiny. Midfielder Madison Vasquez earned All-MAAC honors for the third year in a row for Siena College, making the Second Team as she started all 18 matches and tallied 10 points with three game-winning goals. Vasquez was a two-time Preseason All-MAAC selection as well. Madison appeared in eight games (2 G, 2 A) this past summer for the 2017 UWS National Semifinalist Long Island Rough Riders.

Defender Elizabeth Wenger rounds out the draft-eligible list after earning a 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team selection for Georgetown University. Wenger was a First Team All-Midwest Region honoree after being named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. She was a three-time All-BIG EAST honoree, earning a spot on the first team as a senior (78 starts over her four-year career). Wenger appeared in eight games for Lancaster during the 2017 UWS season, notching an assist.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.

Villacorta trains with U.S. U-20's; Clem on NWSL Draft prelim list

METUCHEN, NJ - The holiday season has wrapped up but there was plenty of activity in the world of women's soccer as numerous United Women's Soccer (UWS) stars dotted the headlines. The United States Under-20 Women's National Team just completed their first training camp of 2018 and three UWS alums took part; the 2017 UWS West Defensive Player of the Year was honored as top player by her home country; the preliminary list of eligible players for the 2018 Draft was released by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and UWS was well represented; and another familiar standout is featured in our New Year's Roundup.

THREE UWS STARS WITH U.S. U-20's... the last training camp of 2017 (and correspondingly the first of 2018) was just completed for the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Three UWS stars - defender Emily Madril (Santa Clarita), midfielder Viviana Villacorta (Santa Clarita) and midfielder Natalie Winters (Detroit Sun FC) - took part as Head Coach Jitka Klimkova is in the process of choosing the final 20-player roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, taking place from January 18-28 in Trinidad & Tobago. Madril played in 10 games this past summer for the 2017 West champion Blue Heat and was named to the UWS Team of the Week (Week 3) for her two-goal performance in a win over So Cal Crush FC. Villacorta started in the 2017 UWS National Semifinal & Final alongside Madril for Santa Clarita, and did the same for UCLA this past month. Winters just completed her sophomore season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she was a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection. For more information, click HERE.

KUIKKA NABS TOP FINN HONORS... the 2017 UWS West Defensive Player of the Year and Florida State University defender Natalia Kuikka was awarded her nation's top honors as the 2017 Finland Female Player of the Year. The Finnish Women's National Team finished 4-4-2 in international competition in 2017 (2-0-0 in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying). While the exploits of her FSU teammate Deyna Castellanos have been much lauded, the strong two-way play of Kuikka on the flank was just as special this past summer for Santa Clarita. The Blue Heat defense allowed only five goals in eight regular season games with her leadership. She started in the 2017 UWS National Semifinal & Final alongside her FSU teammates Castellanos & Madril and UCLA's Villacorta. During her 2017 season with Florida State, she helped the Seminoles reach the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament and earned All-ACC First Team honors. For more information, click HERE.

NWSL RELEASES PRELIMINARY DRAFT LIST... the National Women's Soccer League released the preliminary list of registered players for the 2018 Draft. The draft will take place on January 18 at 10 AM ET at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Four UWS standouts were on the initial roster of draft-eligible players, headlined by 2017 UWS Defensive Player Of The Year & University of Wisconsin goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem. Detroit Sun FC finished in 2nd place in the Midwest and Clem started in seven regular season games (5-1-1 record, 3 shutouts, 7 goals allowed). Caitlyn took part in the Sun's playoff run, starting in all three postseason games including the 2017 National Semifinal. Forward Isabella Habuda teamed up with Clem for Detroit, and was tied for second in scoring (3 goals). The Liberty University star was named to the UWS Team of the Week (Week 1) for her 2 goals off the bench in a win at FC Indiana. Hayward has been a part of the Houston Aces the past two seasons and was named to the All-SWAC Second Team this past fall after leading Texas Southern University with eight goals (18 points). Abam starred for the Colorado Pride during the 2016 UWS season. For more information, click HERE.

MORE GOLDEN BALLS FOR BALCER... 2017 was an award-winning year for Grand Rapids FC Women midfielder Bethany Balcer. The UWS Midwest Player of the Year continued her torrid run for the 2017 UWS National Champions to fall competition with No. 1-nationally ranked & NAIA National Champion Spring Arbor University. Balcer completed her trophy shelf by being named the 2017 United Soccer Coaches NAIA Player of the Year late in December. She started all 26 games for SAU and scored 86 points (37g, 12a). In the 2017 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship, the leading scorer in UWS this past summer scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Benedictine in the final. The National Players of the Year will be honored for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Luncheon on January 20, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention. For more information, click HERE.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.

13 UWS standouts took part in penultimate rounds of fall competition

METUCHEN, NJ - The national championship tournaments at all levels of collegiate competition wrapped up earlier this month, and 13 current & former United Women's Soccer (UWS) standouts took part in the penultimate rounds of NCAA and NAIA competition. Leading the way were members of the 2016 UWS National Champion Santa Clarita Blue Heat (West Conference), New York Surf (East Conference) and 2017 UWS National Champion Grand Rapids FC Women (Midwest Conference). At the NCAA Division I level, UWS was well represented as UCLA and Stanford battled it out in a memorable championship match with the latter capturing its second national title in Cardinal history.

DIVISION I: No. 5-nationally ranked UCLA (19-3-3) defeated Duke in the semifinal in a 4-3 penalty kick shootout after the match ended in a 0-0 draw at Orlando City Stadium, before moving on to the 2017 DI Women's Soccer Championship Final. Six current & former Santa Clarita Blue Heat standouts were represented on the UCLA squad this season, including four members of the 2017 national semifinalists: midfielder Chloe Castaneda, forward Julia Hernandez, defender Jacey Pederson and midfielder Viviana Villacorta. Two Blue Heat alums from the 2016 UWS champions also took part - defender Gabrielle Matulich and goalkeeper Siri Ervik. Castaneda (9GP for Santa Clarita in 2017) was named to the All-UWS Second Team selection and Hernandez played in five games this past summer. The latter was also the 2016 UWS Championship MVP, scoring both goals in the national final victory. Pederson played in five games this past summer for the Blue Heat while Villacorta started in the 2017 UWS national semifinal & final. Villacorta did the same for UCLA and Hernandez was a super sub for Head Coach Amanda Cromwell, scoring in the PK shootout in the semifinal and assisting on the second goal in the 3-2 loss in the final to Stanford.

DIVISION II: No. 3-nationally ranked Mercy College (18-4-1) made it all the way to the semifinal of the 2017 DII Women's Soccer Championship before losing to eventual champion Central Missouri. Three members of the New York Surf - defender Rebecca Conway, midfielder Corinna Ferrante and defender Trista Seara - suited up for the Mavericks, who had a historic season as they won a school record 18 games, their first ECC Championship since 2014, their first-ever East Region Championship and advanced to the school's first-ever Final Four. Conway (5GP for Surf in 2017) was named to the DII Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team and Seara (7GP for Surf in 2017) was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Conference First Team. Both were part of a Mercy defense that allowed two goals in three NCAA Tournament games. Ferrante was third in scoring for the Mavericks (7-2-16) this fall. This past summer, she was named to the UWS Team Of The Week (Week VIII). No. 4-nationally ranked UC-Colorado Springs (17-5-1) also made it to the semifinals and defender Anna Gregg - a 2016 alum of the Colorado Pride - started vs. Carson-Newman.

NAIA: Midfielder Bethany Balcer continued her torrid run for the 2017 UWS National Champion GRFC Women from this past summer to fall competition with No. 1-nationally ranked & NAIA National Champion Spring Arbor University (24-1-1), starting all 26 games and scoring 86 points (37g, 12a). In the 2017 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship, the 2017 UWS Midwest Player of the Year scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Benedictine in the final and had an assist in the semifinal. Fort Wayne United Gryphons midfielder/forward Malorie Henderlong also started in both games of the NAIA Championship for SAU, assisting on the game-winning goal over No. 3-nationally ranked University of Northwestern Ohio (20-3-1) in the semifinal. Detroit Sun FC midfielder/forward Evdokia Popadinova came off the bench for UNO in that match, as she finished up her fall season with 53 points (19g, 15a). The Bulgarian star played in 10 games for Detroit this past summer, and was named to the 2017 All-UWS Championship Team for her efforts for the national semifinalists.

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.